Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-12

-
Scientific Ssady.
A LITTLE xxxAeERn At sHR OLD AHsoRY--yoenL
PRAIRIE DOCS, LYNxKs, AND A cnNAnuss naAn-
THEIR HAsrs 10 Dr. srup1KD AND THEIR Aru-
TUBES sKRrCHRD, ETC.
There are some new animals nom tho sswfld
West" in town. They have taken up their rssi.
dence on street southwest In the yard In the rear
Of the OLD Armory building on the mail, which n
used - the central station OF the United states
Fish Commission. In . large dry-eoods boz, that
has been converted into cage By mailing wire
door over the open side. two large iynxes lay
mufned up In straw. One IL . spotted lynx, and
was captured on an island In the middle OF the
Great Salt Lake In Utah. The other animal h
Just as handsome, but not OF 30 rare breed rs his
companion.
On top OF this boz rests another. Behind the
thin wire oars two foxes lay with their sharp noses
pointing upward and their cunning looking eyes
rolling about The one nearest the front OF the
oox Is silver gray, and was caught while steal.
Alaska. The other Is q common red fox, and be
lives when at home. among the Mandan indiana
In long, low box near by, TWO badgers crawl
pokes his cane or umbrella inside the cage their
black eyes glow with rage and their lips are drawn
OF
too. and their home is In the neighborhood OF the
great Mormon city. But the crowds OF men, wo-
morning till night are more interested In the great
box that stretches alongside the badgers housr.
us TOP y boarded over. but through the open.
hop about. stopping at intervals TO sit straight
upon their hind legs and give peculiar bark.
They are
and the interior Of the box has been arranged as
nearly as possible to look like the sand-hin homes
OF these creatures that dot the prares OF the far
West. The gentleman who was introducing a
STAR reporter TO the family, called one OF the cute
lifted on, he climbed eagerly into the arms Of the
gentleman, where he Guided up close and showed
By succession q quick little 6arks bis delight At
obtaining q sembance OF liberty. The caresses
tn At were showered upon him 6y the visitors be
seemed TO enjoy hugely, and when he returned To
the boz he ran up to The bars and poked his nose
ter or the yard golden eagle stood upon box.
One Of bis ankles was encircied by chain that
was fastened TO the top OF the box. Even In bond
age he preserved an air Of noble dignity.
jim, THE BEAR.
Almost hidden from sight, In q box that stands
under the shed into which the cars OF the Fish
Commission roll to get their loads OF young flsh,
sits "Jim." Jim is a young cinnamon bear, not
9 put ne much n
fashion. But 'Jim" also wears the chain OF bond
age, and thought may not gan him, II has subdued
he Will permit many familiariIies from the boys
around without any show OF resentment or annoy.
ance. "Jim" Is the last and largest OF the new ar
and came In the cars that stand in the yard with
the letters ~. s. +. c." painted on their sides.
From week to week other cars will roll into the
and larger until nnally they will be removed TO a
home that Will be prepared for them In the
grounds south OF the Smithsonian Institution.
BROUGHT FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES.
The gentleman VINO accompanied the reporter
M Mr. n chi Of
National Museum, and he explained that che
animals have been brought here FOR scientific pur.
poses. The Smithsonian authorities have recently
been making Interesting investigations In refer
ence to the destruction VI game in the West and
In the belief that within a lew years many OF the
larger American animals will be entirely destroyed,
they are preparing series OF family groups OF the
different species The ANNALS that have been
brought here are expected 10 form an important
feature OF this worn. Although In captivity their
surroundings will be arranged 10 look as natural
as possible by artificial means, and from minute
and daily observations OF their habits or fe atti-
tutes &c. the taxidermlsts Will be enabled 10 pre-
pare the groups OF e-eh species In nIe-like
manner.
TO SAVE SPECIMENS OF AMERICAN ANIMALS.
'The whole movement has been prompted" said
Mr.. Hornaday, the fe lrful rapidity with which
game Is being killed in the West and In the abso-
lutte certainty that In few years many OF the rep
unct. Heretofore IL has not been the policy OF
the Museum authorities TO keep the animals that
are sent them for scientific purposes When
through with them they were sent 10 the Pnila.
delphIa Geological, Gardens. But now we propose
TO take care OF Them e5 them breed here and study
their habits. Several OF them have been donated
and Others we have captured. This Is \ matter "a
which Americans must look very soon, or many OF
the most important species VIII be gone, leav-
ing no trace behind. We ought to have here q
III st-class collection OF American living animals.
DO you know that nowhere on Its parks, reserva.
tons or under its jurisdiction has the Government
any live buffaloe, that are likely TO remain? The
animals that are in the Yellowstone Park are fast
concluded Mr.. HOrnaday emphatically. Mr.. Horn.
aday mas completed three groups OF animals. One
represents flying squirrels or different ages, an.
other Is q group OF coyotes, and the other Is q
group OF buifaiOes.